Machine and method for backing books



Allg- 10, 1955 R. B. HAWKEs ETAL. 3,199,129

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BACKING BOOKS Filed May 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 d I N i l' \\\l N Y s, si Nl f @l i gg Lo i, v e

y ,///////////////W Q f l/////// i /fc O J f Of) N ri INVENTOR. IL- "Hof/, 1400 #4h/K55 BY 7PM/4s .5. /vw/K Allg- 10, 1955 R. B. HAwKEs ETAL 3,199,129

MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BACKING BOOKS Filed May 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T ORNEY Unite ta but! This invention relates to continuous book backing and more in particular to a machine which operates in rolling engagement with the back of a book during the backing operation.

our copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 2l5,639, tiled August 8, 1962, now U.S. Patent No. 3,132,369 issued May l2, 1964; there is shown a machine for continuously rounding and backing books. In the machine of the application prior to the rounding operation, the books are secured between clamp plates with the backs of the books exposed. By means of a conveyor, the clamp plates are continuously advanced through the machine. At the book rounding station of the machine, a reciprocating forming tool is advanced against the front of the book and urges the front into a concave shape while at the same time, by means of a die, urges the back of the book into a convex shape.

in the backing operation, it is necessary to flare the signatures at the backs or" the books outwardly in order to urge the outermost signatures about the edges of the clamp plates adjacent thereto and thereby form the book joints. ln the machine of the application cited herein, the backing operation is performed by a plurality of rotating disks which are inclined in a transverse direction with respect to the continuous line of travel of the books through the machine. in addition to being tilted in a transverse direction, each oi the disks is tilted in the longitudinal direction in order that each disk may engage the back oi the book at the portion or the disk which is trailing relative to the direction of travel of the books through the machine. The rotating disks are disposed on both sides of the path of travel of the books so that the signatures may be swaged outwar 'ly toward both of the clamp plates and thereby form the joints of the books. The direction of rotation ot each of the disks is such that the portion of the disk engaging the backs ot the books urges the sig natures outwardly at substantially right anglesto the direction of travel oi the books. The transverse tilt angle or the disks to the horizontal is increased for each successive disk in the direction of travel of the books. As a result, the disks which first engage a given book act primarily upon the central portion of its back while subsequent disks act primarily upon outwardly extending portions of its back. The ilnal disks of the machine which have the maximum transverse tilt angle engage the book adjacent to the joint and complete the forming of the joint.

ln the machine of the application cited herein the disks which are in form can have a smooth and polished continuous u ner surface as Well as a polished upper surface contah ng a plurality of grooves such as grooves extending radially 'from the center of the disks. Experience has shown that the machine of the cited application is capable of successfully and eciently performing the rounding and backing operations as the books are ad* vanced continuously through it. However in certain cases where the backs of the books have been glued up prior to the backinty operation, it is possible for the friction developed by the sliding engagement or the disks with the backs of the books to generate surlcient heat to melt or otherwise remove at least a portion of the glue. ln certain other cases the frictional forces applied to the backs of the books by the rotating disks have been found to be fic sutcient to abrade or raise the surface of the back of the books to an undesirable extent.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide an apparatus for performing the backing operation under a condition of reduced frictional engagement with the books.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for performing the backing operation by applying greater force to the backs of the books with less friction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for performing a backing operation in a manner which minimizes the possibility of heating or abrading the backs of the books.

it is also an object of the invention to provide appara tus for performing a backing operation which cannot only operate with reduced friction, but which is also compatible to a continuously operating machine.

In one emhodimentrof the invention of a machine for backing books having pre-rounded backs, the booksv are advanced through the machine with the sides of the books clamped along7 lines which denne the joints of the books. The machine includes a plurality of hub members disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the backs of the books at the opposite sides thereof. Each or the hub members has a plurality of rolling members mounted thereon. The machine further includes means for rotatively mounting each of the hub members with the path of travel of at least a portion of the rolling members being substantially tangential to a portion to the backs of the books adjacent to their surface. The paths of at least a portion of the rolling members are tilted toward one another at an obtuse angle. ln addition, there is provided means tor rotating each of the hub members about the central axis thereof in a direction which moves the portion of the rolling members engaging the backs of the books to move outwardly from the path of travel of the books.

With this arrangement, the rolling members can apply to the backs oi' the books a substantially tangential force which extends outwardly at a right angle to the path of advancement of the books. In this way the signatures are ilared outwardly against the clamping means supporting the book to form the book joint. The rolling members serve to reduce friction so that the backs of the books are not excessively abraded or heated during the backing operation. Thus the possibility of the backing operation damaging the backs of the books or melting the glue disposed thereon is greatly reduced.

. In another embodiment of the invention, the hub members are provided with a plurality of rollers mounted there on which extend radially from the central axis of the hub member and are tangent to a common plane. With this arrangement, the working of the backs of the books is confined to the engagement of the rollers therewith. Thus the rollers form a circular region about the hub member which can engage the backs of the books when the plane tangent to the rollers is positioned to be substantially tangential to the backs of the books. f -In still another embodiment of the invention the rollers extend radially from the periphery ,of the hub member With-the common plane tangential to the rollers offset from the hub member. This construction insures that the roll ers alone engage the backs of the books.

A machine incorporating the principlesof the present invention isiillustrated by the accompanying drawings in FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the backing rollers of the invention mounted adjacent to the path of travel of by anti-friction bearings (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the backing rollers at an intermediate stage of the backing operation.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational View showing the backing rollers performing the final stages of the backing operation as well as completing the book joint.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the trailing rollers of the plurality of backing rollers engaging f the back of an advancing book.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the backing rollers mounted upon a hub member.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section view taken along the line '7-7 in FIG. 6 and showing the mounting of the backing roller with respect to the hub member.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, machine 10 for backing books having pre-rounded backs receives books 11 mounted between book clamps 12. Each of book clamps 12 includes inner clamp plate 13 mounted by carriage 14 which rides in guideway 15. The books are clamped between inner clamp plate 13 and outer clamp plate 16 which is mounted upon transversely reciprocating rods 17 by compression coil springs (not shown). The means for advancing the books through the machine includes endless conveyor chain 14a connected to carriage 14 of the book clamps.

Book clamps 12 advance the books into backing machine after the books have been previously pre-rounded by a rounding machine such as that shown in our copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 215,639 in which the backs of the books are urged against the face of a die which is transversely concave and longitudinally straight. Thus as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the rounding machine or rounding station is located to the left of backing machine 10. After the rounding operation, each book has a xed location relative to clamp plates 13 and 16 as shown in FIG. 2. This location is such as to bring back 18 of book 11 slightly below lower edges 19 and 20 which form the lines along which the clamps define joints 21 of the books. The lower edges of the plates on their inner sides can be inclined slightly toward one another so that the lowermost extremities of the plates grip the books most tightly along the two lines thus established. These incline portions or jaws can be provided by inserts fixed to the clamp plate (not shown) or by contouring the plates themselves. The two lines so formed are located relative to the back so as to locate the books hinge line or joint. Preferably the bottom edges of the two plates are chamfered as at 19a and 20a. The grip of the jaw portions of the clamp plates is tight enough to indent the outermost signatures slightly as shown in FIG. 4.

Book backing assembly 22 includes hub member or hub 23 having a plurality of flats 24 disposed about its periphery (FIG. 6). Flats 24 are provided with bores 2S in which are mounted shafts 26. Screws 27 retain the shafts in position within the bores. Rolling members or rollers 2S are mounted for free rotation upon shafts 26 The rollers are positioned with a portion of their surface tangent to a plane disposed above the upper surface of hub 23. This enables the rollers to travel along a path offset from the hub. Rollers 2S can be provided with chamfers 29 in order to eliminate any sharp edges adjacent to the` cylindrical surface of the rollers (FIG. 7).

As shown in FIG. l, the hubs are attached to shafts 30 which are mounted in sleeves 31. Sleeves 31 can be positioned in a longitudinal direction with respect to support 32 .in order to tilt the path of the surface of rollers 28 adjacent to backs 18- of the books downwardly therefrom so that at any given timethe rollers which are in a trailing position with respect to the direction of the advancing of the books engage the backs (FIGS. l and 5 Frame 33 in which support 32 is mounted is adjustably supported by bracket 34. Bolt 35 extending through slot 36 of the bracket secures frame 33 in its finally adjusted position. The adjustment of frame 33 with respect to the bracket in turn sets the transverse angle at which the path of travel of the rollers is tilted toward the clamp plates. The backing assemblies disposed at opposite sides of the path of travel of the books are tilted toward one another at an obtuse angle.

Shaft 30 of each of the backing assemblies is provided with bevel drivenV gear 37 which in turn is engaged to bevel Adrive gear 3S. A series of shafts 39 provided with universal joints 40 are coupled to driven gears 3S in order to provide the means for rotating backing assemblies 22. As shown by the arrows on hubs 23 in FIGS. 1 and 5, the direction of rotation of the rollers about the axis of shaft 30 at each location is such that the trailing rollers of each hub move outwardly from the center line of travel of the books. In this way upon engagement of the rollers with backs 18 of the books, the signatures are urged outwardly toward the clamp plates.

Backing assembly 22 in the left portion of FIG. 1 is the first assembly to engage the backs of the approaching books since the books are traveling in the direction of the arrow adjacent to the clamp plates in the drawing. The iirst backing assembly shown in FIG. 2 has hub 23 disposed at a substantially shallow or iiat transverse angle with respect to the back of the book.V In this case the force applied by each of rollers 28 is also at a shallow angle to the horizontal and thus can serve to gradually begin the backing operation. In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the angle of hub 23 with respect to the horizontal and the back of the book is shown as being gradually increased. As a result, the angle of the force applied to the signatures by the rollers also is increased and thus the backing operation progresses in a manner which gradually forms the signatures outwardly and upwardly with respect to the clamp plates. he transverse angles or" each of the hubs is adjustably determined by means of frame 33 as heretofore discussed.

It is also desirable to gradually increase the pressure of the rollers upon the backs of the books as thebacking operation is performed. This adjustment is accomplished by setting the relationship of the path of travel of the rollers with respect to the path of advancement of the backs of the books through the machine. Adjustment of clamp41 enables sleeve 31 and therefore hub 23 to be raised or lowered with respect to support 32 in order to position the hub along its axis of rotation. Thus as shown in FIG. 1, the rst backing assembly can be adjusted t0 provide a relatively light pressure against the back of the book in order to start the outward ilaring of the back of the books. In turn, each successive backing assembly can be adjusted to apply greater heavier pressure so that the iinal assembly can complete the backing operation and form the book joint.

During the backing operation, the inwardly projecting edges or jaws of the clamp plates keep the signatures anchored firmly against any tendency for the book to work upwardly. In addition, the clamp plates pinch the sides of the book so that the joint is more permanent than otherwise might obtain. Although three backing assemblies are shown in FIG. l, it is to be understood that more assemblies may be employed. In addition, it is to be understood that the rotative speed of the assemblies may be adjusted with respect to one another by variations of the gear drive, for example, in order to obtain the best results.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, the transverse angularity and the pressure degree of engagement of the rollers with the backs of the books is gradually increased in order to progressively perform the backing operation. By virtue of the rolling engagement of the rollers with the backs of the books, the progressively increasing working of the backing operation can be performed without damaging the books since the degree of sliding is reduced or eliminated. In addition, the rolling action, by reducing friction, reduces the degree of heat generation which could possibly damage the books or melt the glue applied to the backs and penetrating into between the signatures. The fact that the hubs are tilted at a slight longitudinal angle with respect to the backs of the books and that the cylindrical surfaces of the rollers are tangent to a plane above the upper surface of the hub, contact between the hub and the backs is prevented and thus it is insured that the rollers alone perform the backing operation. ln the case where there is any shedding of material from the backs or the removal of any excess glue, the roller arrangement prevents any undue accumulation of such material so that the surfaces of the rollers do not become coated or otherwise loaded during continuous operation.

With the roller backing assembly of the invention, books can be subjected to a backing operation as they are continuously advanced and it is insured that the backing operation can be effectively performed without causing excessive abrading or heating of the backs of the books.

This application is a continuation-in-part application of our copending US. patent application Ser. No. 215,639, filed August 8, 1962, now U.S. Patent No. 3,132,360, issued May l2, 1964.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for backing books having pre-rounded backs as the books are advanced through the machine in a clamped condition with their backs exposed comprising a plurality of hub members disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the backs of the books at the opposite sides thereof, each of said hub members having a plurality of rolling members pivotally mounted thereon, and means for rotatively mounting each of said hub members With the path of travel of at least a portion of each of the rolling members of each of said hub members being substantially tangential to a portion of the backs of the books adjacent to the surface of the backs to engage at least a portion of the plurality of rolling members with the backs of the books, the path of travel of said rolling members of hub members disposed at opposite sides of the path of travel of the books being tilted toward one another at substantially an obtuse angle, and means for rotating each of said hub members about the central axis thereof in a direction by which the portion of the rolling members engaging the backs of the books moves outwardly from the path of travel of the books.

2. A machine for backing books having pre-rounded backs as the books are advanced through the machine in a clamped condition with their backs exposed comprising a plurality of hub members disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the backs of the books at the opposite sides thereof, each of said hub members having a plurality of rolling members pivotally mounted thereon, the pivotal axis of each of said rolling members extending radially from the central axis of said hub member upon which said rolling member is mounted, and means for rotatively mounting each of said hub members about said central axis thereof with the path of travel of at least a portion of each of the rolling members of each of said hub members being substantially tangential to a portion of the backs of the books adjacent to the surface of the backs to engage at least a portion of the plurality of rolling members with the backs of the books, the path of travel of said rolling members of hub members disposed at opposite sides of the path of travel of the books being tilted toward one another at substantially an obtuse angle, the angle between successive hub members decreasing in the direction of the advancement of the books decreasing in magnitude, and means for rotating each of said hub members about the central axis thereof in a direction by which the portion of the rolling members engaging the backs of the books moves outwardly from the path of travel of the books.

3. A machine for backing books having pre-rounded backs as the books are advanced through the machine in a clamped condition with their backs exposed comprising a plurality of hub members disposed adjacent to the path of advancement of the backs of the books at the opposite sides thereof, each of said hub members having a plurality of rolling members pivotally mounted thereon, the pivotal axis of each of said rolling members extending radially from the central axis of said hub member upon which said rolling member is mounted, and means for rotatively mounting each of said hub members about said central axis thereof with the path of travel of at least a portion of each of the rolling members of each of said hub members being substantially tangential to a portion of the backs of the books adjacent to the surface of the books to engage at least a portion of the plurality of rolling members with the backs of the books, said path of travel being tangential at the portion of said path which is trailing with respect to the direction of advancing of said clamping means, the path of travel of said rolling members of hub members disposed at opposite sides of the path of advancement of the books being tilted toward one another at an obtuse angle, and means for rotating each of said hub members about the central axis thereof in a direction by which the portion of the rolling members engaging the backs of the books moves outwardly from the path of advancement of the books.

4. In a machine for backing books having pre-rounded backs, said machine having means for clamping the sides of the books along lines defining the joints thereof, and means for advancing the clamping means through the machine, the combination comprising a plurality of hub members disposed adjacent to the path of advancement of the backs of the books at the opposite sides thereof, each of said hub members having a plurality of rolling members pivotally mounted thereon, the pivotal axis of each of said rolling members extending radially from the central axis of said hub member upon which said rolling member is mounted, and means for rotatively mounting each of said hub members about said central axis thereof with the path of travel of at least a portion of each of the rolling members of each of said hub members being substantially tangential to a portion of the backs of the books adjacent to the surface of the backs to engage at least a portion of the plurality of rolling members With the backs of the books, said path of travel at the portion thereof which is trailing with respect to the direction of advancing of said clamping means being substantially` tangential and perpendicular to the path of travel of the backs of the books, the path of travel of said rolling members of hub members disposed at opposite sides of the path of advancement of the books being tilted toward one another at an obtuse angle, and means for rotating each of said hub members about the central axis thereof in a direction by which the portion of the rolling members engaging the backs of the books moves outwardly from the path of advancement of the books.

5. In a machine for backing books having pre-rounded backs, said machine having means for clamping the sides of the books along lines defining the joints thereof, and means for advancing the clamping means through the machine, the combination comprising a plurality of hub members disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the backs of the books at the opposite sides thereof, each of said hub members having a plurality of rolling members pivotally mounted thereon, the pivotal axis of said rolling members extending radially from the central axis of said hub member upon which said rolling member is mounted, said rolling members of each of said hub members being tangential to a common plane, and means for rotatively mounting each of said hub members With the common plane of the rolling members of each of said Vhub members being substantially tangential to a portion of the backs of the books adjacent to the surface of the backs to engage at least a portion of the plurality of rolling members with the backs of the books, the planes of said rolling members of hub members disposed at opposite sides of the path of travel of the book being tilted toward one another at an obtuse angle, and means for rotating each of said hub members about the central axis thereof in a direction by which the portion of the rolling members engaging tbe backs of the books moves outwardly from the path of travel of the books.

6. A method for backing books having pre-rounded backs While the books are clamped comprising the steps of advancing the books along a line of travel and sequentially rolling a plurality of rolling members across the backs of the books for applying rolling pressure thereto in a series of applications, during each successive application the rolling pressure being applied alternately to each longitudinal side portion of the backs of the books, the rolling pressure being applied along a path of travel which is substantially tangential to the backs of the books and extending at substantially right angles away rorn the rolling pressure..

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,516,446 7/50 Budden 1l-5 EUGENE R. CAPOZO, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, LEONARD W. VARNER,

Exmrzlzers. 

1. A MACHINE FOR BACKING BOOKS HAVING PRE-ROUNDED BACKS AS THE BOOKS ARE ADVANCED THROUGH THE MACHINE IN A CLAMPED CONDITION WITH THEIR BACKS EXPOSED COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HUB MEMBERS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE BACKS OF THE BOOKS AT THE OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, EACH OF SAID HUB MEMBERS HAVING A PLURALITY OF ROLLING MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON, AND MEANS FOR ROTATIVELY MOUNTING EACH OF SAID HUB MEMBERS WITH THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF EACH OF THE ROLLING MEMBERS OF EACH OF SAID HUB MEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIAL TO A PORTION OF THE BACKS OF THE BOOKS ADJACENT TO THE SURFACE OF THE BACKS TO ENGAGE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE PLURALITY OF ROLLING MEMBERS WITH THE BACKS OF THE BOOKS, THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID ROLLING MEMBERS OF HUB MEMBERS DISPOSED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE BOOKS BEING TILTED TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AT SUBSTANTIALLY AN OBTUSE ANGLE, AND MEANS 